Equestrian history, especially Polish, Eurasian and American horsemanship and its history - from Bronze Age to AD 1939. Historical equestrian art, my own artwork & reconstructions, and some traditional art media and digital artwork-related topics.
All my text and my own art etc - all rights reserved unless permitted by 'Dariusz caballeros' aka DarioTW

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Batty - HOW INDIANS HUNT THE BUFFALO

Salve,

Joseph Batty wrote on How Indians Hunt the Buffalo [on horseback and in 1870s].
Hopefully in the future I will provide more primary accounts describing the bison hunting techniques of the Great Plains tribal peoples:

Were it not for the buffalo, the Indians of the southern plains
would be deprived of food, and also of bedding, clothing and teepies
which the skins furnish ; even now there is so much hunting by the
Whites that the number of buffalo are greatly reduced, and the
Indian's comfort, comparatively speaking, is already gone. On the
northern plains they remain yet in greater numbers, but their final
destruction is inevitable everywhere.
The Great Fall Hunt" The great Fall hunt " is the Indian's harvest and
annual feast. Never is he in such good spirits, never does he hunt
with such excitement, and never is his insatiable appetite so
gratified. In September, bands start out well provided with teepies,
guns, ammunition and horses. They travel sometimes hundreds of miles
before reaching a buffalo country, camping each night when darkness
overtakes them. When finally reaching a place where buffalo are known
to abound, runners are sent out to sight them. When they return with
good news, the Indians, anticipating the hunt, are thrown into great
commotion; they strip themselves of all clothing except breech
clout, and moccasins, and some deck themselves with feather
head-dresses.

Saddles are removed from ponies and riding pads
substituted. Young bucks are sent out to choose desirable camping
ground near water, and when a place is decided upon, squaws and
trappings are sent for. The squaws get up the teepies, erect
scaffolds for drying meat, and make all preparations needful to camp
comfortably. The hunters that have started on their ponies ride until
a favorable herd of buffalo is dis- covered, then, as well as
diversity of country will admit, they slowly surround them at a
distance. It is seemingly understood that they shall all dash forward
after a certain length of time, and they come in a fury of speed,
yelling inhumanly, and shouting the "whey! whey! whey !" to
their horses.

Each Indian singles a buffalo and follows it in every direction,
and the form of the surround is lost. So perfectly trained is the
pony, and so skilled in hunting is the Indian, that in every effort
to turn or get away, the buffalo is pursued as it were in shadow, and
unto death. When the first buffalo falls, the Indian looks forward,
and if any scattering ones are seen, a second chase ensues. Old men
and young bucks not engaged in the fight stand at specified distances
with extra horses, and when those in the chase give out, the rider
drives up to those. in reserve and exchanges.

The hunting is done as
near camp as possible, and the squaws are sent for to skin and dress
the buffalo that have fallen within reason- able distance. Each of
the animals too far away to be reached, are partially skinned by the
Indian who has killed them, and they will often tear the liver and
heart from a buffalo while warm, and devour it with the relish of
wild beasts; the best meat is cut out in flakes, and piled and tied
on the ponies. They are cruelly overladen, and the meat hangs so low
on each side that it usually drags upon the ground, gathering much
dirt, which is never removed, but allowed to dry in ; then, as if the
poor pony was not sufficiently loaded, the Indian takes his seat upon
the top of the meat and rides to camp, the pony staggering beneath
the load. Both pony and rider become saturated with blood, and
neither are ever cleaned. If the chase has been a successful one, the
remains of partially dressed buffalos are left; but if not, they
return, and the carcass is cleaned and meat taken to camp. Sometimes
those who have not been successful in the chase will assist others in
dressing game.

At night a great feast commences, in which men,
squaws, bucks, children, and even the dogs participate. Singing, dancing and wild games are enjoyed, and the most
immoderate eating that man or beast could be guilty of is indulged
in. The intestines of the buffalo are considered the choicest parts,
and are devoured by the Indians in a most disgusting fashion. They
often eat, at this feast, the greater portion of the choicest meat of
the first day's hunt, but on the second day and afterwards, meat is
prepared for the Winter. Day after day the hunt is continued, a chase
often being six miles long, until meat enough has been obtained for
the Winter, or until intense weather puts an end to the sport.
[...]The squaws do all the drudgery; they prepare the meat, and hang it
on the scaffolds to dry. In damp weather it is often partially smoked
by fires being made beneath it when drying. The squaws often skin the
buffalo, and always dress and tan the robes. Few skins are used early
in the season, except for teepies and lodges.
When the Winter coat of the buffalo is half grown, it is at its
best, and the squaws begin to tan robes for trade and their own use.
Very strong lariats are woven by the Indians, out of the fine hair
from the fore shoulders of buffalo, for which they get fabulous
prices.
Some Indians use the army revolver in the hunt, some the carbine
or Winchester rifle, while others use the bow. A warrior snatches an
arrow from his quiver over the shoulder, springs the bow with a magic
hand, and in an instant buries the arrow to the feathers in the flesh
of the buffalo. The arrows are marked in colors near the feathers, so
that each can be recognized, and the game claimed by the owner of the
one which, by its position, indicates that death was caused.

***

Images are from Wikimedia Commons and are photos of paintings done during the XIX century - Alfred Jacob Miller, George Catlin, John Mix Stanley, Paul Kane & Karl Bodmer.

About Me

Czołem/Salve, fellow net traveler... I am Dariusz aka Dario and this is my meydân. Born in the year of the Fire Horse hence I never tire of admiring, drawing & painting or sculpting horses, or just researching the history of equus cabalus, especially in the mounted warrior context. My drawings and paintings - prints - are available for sale (I use MyPaint, Krita & GIMP), I also do commissioned illustration etc, so if you need to contact me regarding a purchase, commission, or any other matter, do email me: darajawausz[at]gmail [dot] com
Ciao - Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas